Apple iPhone Xs review

The Apple iPhone Xs currently has an Informr score of 8.9 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 55
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

Unless you already own an iPhone X, the Xs is a worthy upgrade to just about any other phone on the market. It offers a great camera, unmatchable performance, a beautiful display, and a sleek design -- but it comes with a hefty price tag.

What's good

Fastest mobile phone to date

Solid, classy design

Great display

Fast, detailed cameras

Powerful speakers

eSIM support

IP68 rated

What's bad

Price

No microSD support

No fast charger included

No 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter included

No 3.5mm jack

Apple’s latest release brings their S Series approach to the iPhone X. This means it’s more of a subtle boost than a full-on sequel. But as the iPhone X broke new ground in terms of design for Apple and it’s still one of the most powerful smartphones to date, the iPhone Xs has big shoes to fill.

It features the same stainless steel frame with reinforced glass front and rear panels as the previous release. However, this time the design is IP68 rated -- allowing for submersion in up to 2m of water for up to 30 minutes.

The design is so similar to the iPhone X that many reviewers had trouble telling the difference between the two. There is a new colour available for the Xs and the larger Xs Max -- gold -- and the camera is a few millimetres lower on the back. Otherwise, they’re identical apart from screen size.

There’s still no headphone port or home button, instead requiring a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter for your headphones and touch gestures to access features usually reserved for the home key. Reviewers note the adapter is not included with the phone. Still, the package includes Lighting earbuds -- so you’re not out of listening options if you don’t want to carry around an adapter.

There’s also stereo, front-facing speakers that reviewers loved. They found them well balanced and punchy for mobile speakers with some even calling them the best phone audio to date.

You’ll also find a 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display running at 2436-by-1125 pixels. If you were not a fan of the notch design, it’s still present and appears to be the future design for iPhone models. Switching to OLED seems to be a smart move for Apple as reviewers raved about brightness, colour accuracy, and detail. HDR 10 and Dolby vision support are also available to make video and games pop.

Apple chose a six-core Apple A12 Bionic processor with 4GB of RAM to power all those pixels. They claim it offers a 15% increase in performance and 50% increased graphics performance over the iPhone X. Tests from reviewers appear to confirm these claims and benchmarks show it is the most powerful smartphone to date.

The phone runs the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system -- iOS 12. Paired with the new processor, the interface is fluid and reliable. Reviewers had no complaints of slowdown or annoyances.

As with all iPhones, you cannot use a microSD slot to expand storage. However, the phone is available with 64 to 512GB of internal storage -- so planning ahead makes it easy to avoid storage concerns down the road.

The phone offers dual SIM support -- but not in a traditional sense. You can use one standard SIM and an eSim. This new approach makes it possible to download SIM settings from a carrier and switch the virtual SIM in the eSIM when you please.

The Xs sees an upgrade on the camera front -- though it doesn’t look much different. A dual-lens 12MP rear camera with 2x telephoto zoom and 7MP “TrueDepth” front-facing lens are now paired with an image signal processor to provide better results.

The rear camera also features a larger sensor and bigger sensor pixels. Reviewers found this helped to capture much better shots in low-light. SmartHDR also helps to bring out more detail in shots regardless of lighting.

Reviewers found the cameras stellar in terms of colour accuracy, detail, and speed. Many reviews felt the Pixel 2 still offered superior camera performance -- but only slightly.

The Xs includes a 2,658mAh battery. Reviewers found this good enough to reach the end of the day -- if only just. While the phone supports fast charging and wireless charging, it includes neither of the required accessories in the box. So expect to wait awhile for charges to finish unless you buy a fast charger. 30 minutes of charging is good for 22% with the included charger, while a fast charger reaches 55% in the same time.

Overall, reviewers love the phone. But many question whether it’s worth it to upgrade from an iPhone X. If you’re using an iPhone 8 or Android device, the upgrade is likely worth the price. GSM Arena says, “It's the fastest, the prettiest, the sturdiest, the most luxurious, the most skilled, the most expensive. And yet, it's the same iPhone.”

Engadget declares, “These aren't just worthy successors; they're fantastic smartphones in their own right. And thanks to Apple's growing focus on machine learning and the A12 Bionic's Neural Engine, both of these phones have been set up for success as our smartphone software continues to become more sophisticated.”

What the Critics Are Saying...

The iPhone XS is, objectively, a fantastic phone. It has excellent cameras, powers through tasks with speed, has an impressive battery life, is beautifully made from high-quality materials, and has advanced machine learning and unparalleled AR features. It’s not just a phone – it’s a glimpse into th...

- Tom Fogden, Tech.Co

Apple seems confident that it can buck this trend, and as great as the new iPhone XS models are — the performance is best in class, cameras are finally as good as the competition, and despite iOS' limitations, you are guaranteed software updates — it's difficult to really recommend them to anyone wh...

- Kunal Dua, NDTV

Obviously, choosing between iPhone and Android is a subjective decision and it comes down to a lot of factors. The iPhone XS itself is one of the best phones money can buy right now. But the most important thing is that it’s just not the best. I won’t start a debate here by mentioning which I think...

- Bogdan Popa, Softpedia

These phones possess all the internals that not only make it a great phone but push the all-around envelope of how a phone should be made. The addition of Smart HDR in the cameras, the Neural Engine, the 7nm chip design and all the features make the iPhone XS/XS Max the phones you didn’t know you ne...

- Aaron Almeida, Deccan Chronicle

The iPhone XS is a great smartphone that I'll enjoy picking up from time to time to take photos. I'm pleased with the craftsmanship and the size. I also really like the screen, but the iPhone XS isn't perfect. The battery life didn't knock my socks off, iOS continues to annoy me sometimes and I don'...

Prices (Where to Buy)

Common Questions

The iPhone Xs price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Apple iPhone Xs prices from around the web here on The Informr.

If your iPhone Xs has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Apple support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Apple's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

The best iPhone yet - but not a huge step on from the iPhone X

The iPhone XS is, objectively, a fantastic phone. It has excellent cameras, powers through tasks with speed, has an impressive battery life, is beautifully made from high-quality materials, and has advanced machine learning and unparalleled AR features. It’s not just a phone – it’s a glimpse into the future of phones.

The iPhone XS is, objectively, a fantastic phone. It has excellent cameras, powers through tasks with speed, has an impressive battery life, is beautifully made from high-quality materials, and has advanced machine learning and unparalleled AR features. It’s not just a phone – it’s a glimpse into the future of phones.

Best-in-class performance, excellent cameras, superb display

Apple seems confident that it can buck this trend, and as great as the new iPhone XS models are — the performance is best in class, cameras are finally as good as the competition, and despite iOS' limitations, you are guaranteed software updates — it's difficult to really recommend them to anyone who isn't swimming in money.

Apple seems confident that it can buck this trend, and as great as the new iPhone XS models are — the performance is best in class, cameras are finally as good as the competition, and despite iOS' limitations, you are guaranteed software updates — it's difficult to really recommend them to anyone who isn't swimming in money.

The notch iPhone is back for its second generation

Obviously, choosing between iPhone and Android is a subjective decision and it comes down to a lot of factors. The iPhone XS itself is one of the best phones money can buy right now. But the most important thing is that it’s just not the best. I won’t start a debate here by mentioning which...More

Obviously, choosing between iPhone and Android is a subjective decision and it comes down to a lot of factors. The iPhone XS itself is one of the best phones money can buy right now. But the most important thing is that it’s just not the best. I won’t start a debate here by mentioning which I think is a better phone than the iPhone XS, but if you’re looking in the Android world, there are a few phones offering excellent value for the money without losing the high-quality build that Apple offers.

The best iPhone just got better, bigger

These phones possess all the internals that not only make it a great phone but push the all-around envelope of how a phone should be made. The addition of Smart HDR in the cameras, the Neural Engine, the 7nm chip design and all the features make the iPhone XS/XS Max the phones you didn’t know you need but want.

These phones possess all the internals that not only make it a great phone but push the all-around envelope of how a phone should be made. The addition of Smart HDR in the cameras, the Neural Engine, the 7nm chip design and all the features make the iPhone XS/XS Max the phones you didn’t know you need but want.

Great display, very good camera, perfect craftsmanship

The iPhone XS is a great smartphone that I'll enjoy picking up from time to time to take photos. I'm pleased with the craftsmanship and the size. I also really like the screen, but the iPhone XS isn't perfect. The battery life didn't knock my socks off, iOS continues to annoy me sometimes and I d...More

The iPhone XS is a great smartphone that I'll enjoy picking up from time to time to take photos. I'm pleased with the craftsmanship and the size. I also really like the screen, but the iPhone XS isn't perfect. The battery life didn't knock my socks off, iOS continues to annoy me sometimes and I don't really feel like the rear camera matches the rest of the smartphone's design that well.

Image quality is fantastic

If you like iPhones for iOS you’ll be extremely pleased with what the camera can produce – as it’s still very, very good – but it’s no longer the no.1 recommendation for those whose main concern is the quality of the camera.

If you like iPhones for iOS you’ll be extremely pleased with what the camera can produce – as it’s still very, very good – but it’s no longer the no.1 recommendation for those whose main concern is the quality of the camera.

Astonishment at a price

This year’s iPhones are Apple’s most expensive ever. And while expensive flagship smartphones are nothing new, the high pricing inevitably casts a bit of a shadow over things. If you thought that spending over a thousand bucks on last year’s iPhone X was outrageous, expect to lose your shi...More

This year’s iPhones are Apple’s most expensive ever. And while expensive flagship smartphones are nothing new, the high pricing inevitably casts a bit of a shadow over things. If you thought that spending over a thousand bucks on last year’s iPhone X was outrageous, expect to lose your shit all over again once you see the asking price for the larger-sized XS Max.

Stepping it up

The camera in the iPhone XS and XS Max is undoubtedly the best Apple has produced to date, even if it doesn’t feel like a huge leap forward. It’s a good step in the right direction because it’s starting to address shortcomings. For a brand that once held off competitors in mobile photograph...More

The camera in the iPhone XS and XS Max is undoubtedly the best Apple has produced to date, even if it doesn’t feel like a huge leap forward. It’s a good step in the right direction because it’s starting to address shortcomings. For a brand that once held off competitors in mobile photography, Apple has been playing catch-up for years. At least the gap is smaller now than it was before.

A superb handset

With the same steep starting price as last year’s iPhone X, the new iPhone XS still feels overpriced based the market’s general price/performance balance but that’s nothing new where Apple is concerned. Not a huge upgrade over the iPhone X, but a good choice if you're stuck on an older iPhone and fancy something new.

With the same steep starting price as last year’s iPhone X, the new iPhone XS still feels overpriced based the market’s general price/performance balance but that’s nothing new where Apple is concerned. Not a huge upgrade over the iPhone X, but a good choice if you're stuck on an older iPhone and fancy something new.

Dial S for Superb

If you want (and can afford) one of the best smartphones in tech town in general and the latest and best iPhone in particular, the iPhone XS is a no-brainer. It might look like a dead ringer for the X, but its performance is very much on another level.

If you want (and can afford) one of the best smartphones in tech town in general and the latest and best iPhone in particular, the iPhone XS is a no-brainer. It might look like a dead ringer for the X, but its performance is very much on another level.

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